Apparatus for the production of masts, tubes, columns and the like



Nov. 12, 1963 MENzEL ETAL 3,110,074

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MASTS, TUBES, COLUMNS AND THE LIKE Filed May 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l ma y M2.A N W2 y m K 6 M. MENZEL ETAL 7 APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MASTS, TUBES, COLUMNS AND THE LIKE Filed May 3, 1960 .2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS MET/1v Mex/251., KARL HEM/Z MEA/ZEL.

5y @wQ jce ATTozA/EY United States Patent 3,110,074 APPARATUS FGR THE PRODUCTION OF MASTS, TUBES, COLUP/INS AND THE LEGS Martin Menzel, Ufersn'asse 1, and Karl Heinz Menzel, Berlinerstrasse 26, both of Elsterwerda, Germany Filed May 3, 196%), Ser. No. 26,567 4 Claims. (Cl. 25127) The present invention concerns an apparatus for the production of masts, tubes, columns and the like, round, oval, angular, double T, T shape or similarly profiled bodies of concrete, steel concrete, stressed concrete and other compositions in the most varied profiles or sections.

For the production of masts, tubes, columns and the like of concrete, steel concrete, stressed concrete and other compositions moulds were previously used which consisted of two or more parts in the profile cross section, the joints of which were fixed together by means of screws, stirrups and the like holding devices and were sealed by means of separate fillers.

The use of moulds of this kind involves a heavy expenditure in labour because the screws, stirrups and such like retaining devices which hold the individual parts of the mould together, must always be actuated at each completion of an operation and newly installed, and then must be released again for the removal of the completed moulded body.

As a result of this the joints of the mould portion often cannot be kept sufiiciently tight, so that the material is imperfectly sealed or compressed and undesired markings of the joints occur on the surface of the completed moulded product.

Moreover the cost of installing such moulds is high and this is reflected in the cost of the finished product.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the foregoing disadvantages.

According to the present invention, instead of the previously customary moulds composed in profile cross section of several parts, such moulds are used which in profile cross section consist only of a single piece, and by displacement in the direction of their longitudinal axis within means acting internally from the outside on the mould automatically open and close.

In the case of parallel sided moulds, wedges or oblique surfaces are installed at the outer sides thereof over which correspondingly wedge-shaped or oblique counter pieces engage on the guide pieces holding the mould. With moulds tapering in the longitudinal direction the bulk head plate or guide piece of the frame construction holding the mould is likewise conically formed depending upon the taper of the mould. The mould jacket preferably consists of resilient material in order that it may be forced or sprung apart for removing the produced moulded body from the shell.

The invention avoids the need for cement packings at the joints of the multipartite mould and its clamping together by means of screws, stirrups and similar holding devices. The mould is of simpler shape and the complete finishing process takes place more quickly.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of one form of apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of another form of apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section through the apparatus of FIGS. 4 and 5;

3,1 lhfi'l i Patented Nov. 12, 1963 FIG. 7 is an elevation of a further form of apparatus; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse section through the apparatus of FIG. 7.

With moulds (FIGS. 1 to 3) which are conical and taper in the longitudinal direction, the mould 1 is situated in a frame structure 5 enclosing bulkhead plate or guiding means 2 having complementarily conical bores the diameters of which are larger or smaller as the case may be in stages to the conicity or taper of the mould 1.

For casting articles having uniform transverse cross sections, (FIGS. 4 to 6) wedges or inclined surfaces 3 are installed at the outer side of the mould 1. These wedges in combination with rings 4, constitute guide means. The rings 4 holding the mould 1 have conical counter surfaces corresponding to the taper of the wedge surfaces 3. The rings 4 could be moved individually for opening and closing the mould in numbers necessary in each case for every mould 1. It is also possible however to move them in groups or as a whole by appropriate devices for example by connection with the frame structure 5.

Instead of the bulkhead plates 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 rings 4 could also be used with conical moulds as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. These rings are in this case internally tapered corresponding to the taper of the mould 1 and their internal diameter is adapted to the external diameter of the mould 1.

In all cases the moulds 1 consisting of resilient ma terial are closed and opened by displacement in the longitudinal direction automatically wherein they are guided by means of the wedges 3 installed on the mould or by means of the conical counter surfaces of the frame structure 5. The jacket of the mould 1 can in this case be sprung or forced apart for Withdrawal of the moulded body which is produced. The moulds 1 could also consist of longitudinal strips of rigid or less resilient material, which are connected by means of intermediate webs of elastic material.

For charging the compositon 15 which is to be compressed the moulds have recesses 6 at the top. They could also be longitudinally slotted and open at the top.

The moulds 1 could be used on clamping tracks. In this case for example, the rings 4 would act for holding the mould together. If moulds for the production of stressed concrete bodies are not used on clamping tracks but as individual moulds this takes place conveniently in combination with the frame structure 5. This must be built sufficiently stable to absorb the stresses. It is provided with end caps or head pieces 7 for anchoring the stressed reinforcements. The latter could also be supplemented by means of separate clamping plates 8. In this way the whole reinforcement can be clamped in one operation.

In order to be able to use the frame structure 5 for the production of sections of various kinds and with differing dimensions it is preferable to install the bulkhead plates and guide pieces 4 arranged therein so as to be interchangeable as is illustrated at 9 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Hence the frame structure 5 can also be adjusted to various lengths in the longitudinal direction as it is subdivided according to FIGS. 1 and 10. Then in each case the necessary lengths can be assembled from the sections.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 the frame structure 5 carry stops 11 whilst the mould 1 has fixed abutments 12. The opening of the mould and the drawing out of the moulded product takes place when the concrete 15 has hardened sufiiciently. The moulded piece is gripped at the reinforcement end projecting out of the mould 1 or at the clamping plates 7 or 8 and by means of a suitable drawing or thrust device is moved in the direction of its longitudinal axis. In this case the mould 1 with the completed part 15 is drawn out of the frame structure 5 or pressed out therefrom. As soon as the abutments 12 installed fixedly in the mould 1 make contact with the stops 11 of the frame structure 5 the moulded body is detached from the stationary mould 1 so that it can be completely withdrawn.

For the production of hollow bodies the head pieces 7 and the clamping plates 8 are provided with recesses 13 in order that the hollow space forming cores 14 can also be introduced with the mould closed and removed therefrom. The cores can therefore be removed and used again before the moulded body 15 has set sufliciently for its withdrawal. Thus it is not necessary to provide an individual core for each mould.

To obviate the formation of voids in the production of masts, tubes, columns and the like in steel or stressed concrete as well as similar compositions in moulds which are closed on all sides and which are merely provided at the top with a filling slot for charging the fresh concrete and wherein the consolidation or compression takes place by vibration or the like method, these pores being produced by the air bubbles and water inclusions pushing towards the top of the mould. The necessary labour which is additionally required after removal from the mould for elimination of these pores can be saved and the disadvantages occurring in the concrete structure can be avoided if the moulds 1 are swung somewhat about their longitudinal axis.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 an embodiment of such an apparatus is illustrated, wherein numeral 1 designates the mould, 5 the frame structure, 15 the concrete which is charged into the mould, 6 the filling slot, 16 the pivots disposed at the ends of the mould or frame structure, 17 the vibrator installed on the frame structure, 18 the traverses resting on springs which are provided on the upper side with a bearing for the pivots 16. The traverses 18 rest on bases 19. Numeral 20 is a lever with which the lateral swivel movements with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mould 1 can be carried out.

The air bubbles and water inclusions of the concrete which is to be consolidated or compressed when rising the more they approach the filling slot 6 are held up by the upper part of the mould 1. The rising force of the air bubbles and Water inclusions is at its greatest in the perpendicular direction and it is decreased the more the possibility of rising in the vertical direction is prevented. Now in order to cause the air bubbles and water inclusions 21 to emerge also in the upper part of the mould 1, the mould 1 is swivelled to some extent in the last phase of the vibration by raising and lowering the lever 20.

The lever 20 or the like suitable devices for lateral swinging of the mould 1 with reference to its longitudinal axis could be replaced by hydraulic or pneumatic jacks.

It is also possible to install toothed segments on the mould 1 or on the frame construction 5 which are driven by means of advancing and reversing gear wheels.

The above described devices are preferred embodiments which have been selected to illustrate our invention and other devices which are suitable for practicing the described invention may also be used.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for the molding, from cementitious material, of a slender elongated article of generally uniform cross section throughout its length, a hollow rigid frame having a central longitudinal axis and a length in the direction of said axis, substantially equal to that of the article to be molded, a plurality of guide plates in said frame in spaced relation along and normal to said axis, means removably mounting each said plate in said frame, for withdrawal therefrom only in a direction normal to said axis,

each said plate having a central aperture, all said apertures being aligned along said axis and a tubular one-piece flangeless mold of resilient metal and having separable longitudinally-extending edges, the metal of said mold being pre-stressed to normally hold said edges in circumferentially-spaced relation to define a filling opening, said mold tapering from one end to the other and passing through and fitting each said aperture, translation of said mold along said axis relatively to said plates, effecting circumferentially-distributed, radially-inward forces by said plates upon said mold to close said edges into face-to-face contact to form a closed tube.

2. The device of claim 1, first and second end caps each secured to and over a respective end of said frame, each said cap having a trunnion fixed externally therewith in coincidence with said axis, and first and second fixed bases each journaling a respective one of said trunnions, to thereby mount said frame, plates and mold for oscillation only about said axis.

3. A device for the molding from cementitious material, of a slender elongated article of uniform cross section throughout its length, a hollow rigid frame having a central longitudinal axis and a length substantially equal to that of the article to be molded, a plurality of closed rings mounted in said frame in longitudinallyspaced relation along, normal to and concentric of said axis, a one-piece integral, tubular mold of resilient metal having longitudinally-extending separable edges, the metal of said mold being pre-stressed to normally hold said edges in circumferentially-spaced relation to define a filling opening, said mold being circumferentially contractible to close said edges into face-to-face contact to form a closed tube, and a plurality of sets of wedges, the wedges of each set being fixed to the exterior surface of said mold, in uniformly-spaced relation thereabout, each said set of wedges being coincident with a respective one of said rings, said wedges and rings coacting to close the edges of said mold together, by and in response to relative translation of said mold and rings along said axis.

4. The device of claim 3, said mold being mounted in said frame with said filling opening facing upwardly, first and second end plates each secured over a respective end of said frame and having a central recess coaxial of said longitudinal axis, and a closed core extending through said mold in coaxial spaced relation therewith,

each end of said core fitting a respective one of said recesses.

References (Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 195,062 Warren et al Sept. 11, 1877 208,276 Waterburry Sept. 24,1878 1,119,711 McGee Dec. 1, 1914 1,134,653 Weed Apr. 6, 1915 1,275,115 Whetstone Aug. 6, 1917 1,346,411 Massey July 13, 1920 1,410,751 Hanna Mar. 28, 1922 1,658,922 Heath Feb. 14, 1928 2,153,741 Cobi Apr. 11, 1939 2,514,078 Lee July 4, 1950 2,564,026 Osborn Aug. 14, 1951 2,705,851 Duerr Apr. 12, 1955 2,754,563 Hartenstein July 17, 1956 2,932,075 Knight Apr. 12, 1960 2,949,655 Berumen et a1 Aug. 23, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,080,918 Germany Apr. 28, 1960 537,782 Italy Jan. 4, 1956 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR THE MOLDING, FROM CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, OF A SLENDER ELONGATED ARTICLE OF GENERALLY UNIFORM CROSS SECTION THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH, A HOLLOW RIGID FRAME HAVING A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND A LENGTH IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID AXIS, SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF THE ARTICLE TO BE MOLDED, A PLURALITY OF GUIDE PLATES IN SAID FRAME IN SPACED RELATION ALONG AND NORMAL TO SAID AXIS, MEANS REMOVABLY MOUNTING EACH SAID PLATE IN SAID FRAME, FOR WITHDRAWAL THEREFROM ONLY IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO SAID AXIS, EACH SAID PLATE HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE, ALL SAID APERTURES BEING ALIGNED ALONG SAID AXIS AND A TUBULAR ONE-PIECE FLANGELESS MOLD OF RESILIENT METAL AND HAVING SEPARABLE LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING EDGES, THE METAL OF SAID MOLD BEING PRE-STRESSED TO NORMALLY HOLD SAID EDGES IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-SPACED RELATION TO DEFINE A FILLING OPENING, SAID MOLD TAPERING FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER AND PASSING THROUGH AND FITTING EACH SAID APERTURE, TRANSLATION OF SAID MOLD ALONG SAID AXIS RELATIVELY TO SAID PLATES, EFFECTING 